The Washington Post just ran a story reporting that an analysis of the top 26 conservative television outlets, newspapers, podcasts and newsletters showed only four had ever even mentioned the Dominion lawsuit. If someone would ask a consumer of conservative media about the lawsuit they would have no idea that Fox personalities privately admitted they did not believe what they were saying on air. Houston, we have a problem.
Rod, please post that link here if you can find it. I'd love to read it. I did see one story on the Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal. Thanks for the input.
Great story Dave. But, probably preaching to the choir. Will try to get my father-in-law to read. But he’s a Fox fan & has a couple of pillows. Thanks for keeping the facts out there.
Upon double checking, the article I referred to in my first post was in the New York Times and not the Washington Post. It is in the March 3 edition, and can be found if you search Fox News Dominion on the Times webpage. Sorry that I am unable to post the link, but I am not a very techie person.
"I’m a baseball fan and when I sit down to watch a game, I have to suspend all rational common sense." In seeing this, I thought I was about to read a confession from a lifelong Cardinal fan. Alas --
('Course, Cub fans probably have to go through deeper suspensions of common sense, except for the fact that we have the friendly confines to our advantage.)
Spot on. Now we need to know why viewers prefer Fox over all other news outlets. Perhaps it's the sport of throwing democracy into the den of lions? Sad, but not surprising that the only guardrails left in America are financial penalties ordered in a civil judgement.
Well, we’re a long way from financial penalties in this case. Defamation cases against media defendants are hard to win, mostly for good reason. But this sure appears to be a strong case.
Thanks for the NYT link. I somehow had missed that story. Crickets, indeed.
Thanks again for the column. From my friends and acquaintances who like Fox, I conclude they watch FoxNews, in part, because it reinforces their views (probably true for watchers of CNN, MSNBC, etc. ). I believe they watch FoxNews, even knowing its weaknesses as a media outlet, because in their words, "CNN and MSNBC also spread fake news and lies". ( I do not argue with my friends over false equivalencies. ) They watch and believe FoxNews because it reinforces their larger view of society---anti-government, tolerance for authoritarian leaning leaders, and weakening of tolerance and acceptance the "other" (people of color, LBGTQ, immigrants, etc.). I do lay some of the blame on progressive groups, D leadership and outlets like CNN, MSNBC (not our local TV news) who fail to cogently respond to the culture wars.
.and thanks for the reference to baseball. It remains one fairly neutral ground that I can converse with strangers, not concerned over spiking political nerves
Right, as usual, Ralph. I agree that MSNBC and to a lesser extent CNN can lean left, but I strongly believe neither network would allow guests to continually spew falsehoods without demanding proof, even if it reinforced the network’s viewpoint. Good journalism begins with reliable facts first, then we can get into helping viewers understand what those facts might mean. It requires offering a wide variety of viewpoints from experts about what the facts mean. The journalists should keep their own opinions out of it.
That’s one thing I don’t have a good handle on. Did Fox offer competing viewpoints to what Powell, Giuliani and the pillow guy were spouting? Did they consistently report on the denials Dominion was sending to Fox? I don’t know for certain but I kinda doubt it.
I liked your baseball analogy. I have always viewed Fox News as the Fox Comedy Show - it is entertainment, giving loyal viewers the spin and alternative facts they want to see and hear. Some of them know it is only entertainment, others may believe it is factual, but all are entertained.
Your comments generated yet more questions and thoughts. I do watch Fox-occasionally. I do not recall any competing viewpoints on the Dominion, save for a Fox staffer reporting that Dominion denies Fox’s allegations, immediately followed up by another staffer issuing a sarcastic comment. Again, IMHO, MSNBC and CNN have their problems, but far less significant. My question is what are our journalism schools teaching today? What would Bill Kunerth say?
What I find intriguing about the latest Fox News news, is the belief by Fox viewers that, somehow, the presidential election was to be decided, not by voters, but by who Fox News said had won (as if Fox' "call" had a bearing on the outcome).. What does that say about them? They are angry because Fox News said Trump lost. Then Fox spent 60 days telling them "it wasn't us" - listen to Rudy & Sidney & the Pillow Guy, and Trump - and "go get the real villians" on Jan 6.
The Washington Post just ran a story reporting that an analysis of the top 26 conservative television outlets, newspapers, podcasts and newsletters showed only four had ever even mentioned the Dominion lawsuit. If someone would ask a consumer of conservative media about the lawsuit they would have no idea that Fox personalities privately admitted they did not believe what they were saying on air. Houston, we have a problem.
Rod, please post that link here if you can find it. I'd love to read it. I did see one story on the Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal. Thanks for the input.
Great story Dave. But, probably preaching to the choir. Will try to get my father-in-law to read. But he’s a Fox fan & has a couple of pillows. Thanks for keeping the facts out there.
It would be interesting to hear what he has to say about whether he trusts what Fox is telling him.
Upon double checking, the article I referred to in my first post was in the New York Times and not the Washington Post. It is in the March 3 edition, and can be found if you search Fox News Dominion on the Times webpage. Sorry that I am unable to post the link, but I am not a very techie person.
Jill June has the link in her comment below. Thanks for pointing it out.
The baseball comparison helps my own mind understand possibly why some follow Fox, otherwise I just don’t get it. Thanks!
Me, neither!
"I’m a baseball fan and when I sit down to watch a game, I have to suspend all rational common sense." In seeing this, I thought I was about to read a confession from a lifelong Cardinal fan. Alas --
('Course, Cub fans probably have to go through deeper suspensions of common sense, except for the fact that we have the friendly confines to our advantage.)
No such luck! I am so ready for the season to start.
Looks like the Cards will be good this year, thanks in part to some former Cubs.
The cubbies had a great off-season, though. Swanson, Bellinger. Those guys should feast at Wrigley.
Spot on. Now we need to know why viewers prefer Fox over all other news outlets. Perhaps it's the sport of throwing democracy into the den of lions? Sad, but not surprising that the only guardrails left in America are financial penalties ordered in a civil judgement.
Well, we’re a long way from financial penalties in this case. Defamation cases against media defendants are hard to win, mostly for good reason. But this sure appears to be a strong case.
Thanks for the NYT link. I somehow had missed that story. Crickets, indeed.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/03/business/media/fox-dominion-conservative-media.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Thanks again for the column. From my friends and acquaintances who like Fox, I conclude they watch FoxNews, in part, because it reinforces their views (probably true for watchers of CNN, MSNBC, etc. ). I believe they watch FoxNews, even knowing its weaknesses as a media outlet, because in their words, "CNN and MSNBC also spread fake news and lies". ( I do not argue with my friends over false equivalencies. ) They watch and believe FoxNews because it reinforces their larger view of society---anti-government, tolerance for authoritarian leaning leaders, and weakening of tolerance and acceptance the "other" (people of color, LBGTQ, immigrants, etc.). I do lay some of the blame on progressive groups, D leadership and outlets like CNN, MSNBC (not our local TV news) who fail to cogently respond to the culture wars.
.and thanks for the reference to baseball. It remains one fairly neutral ground that I can converse with strangers, not concerned over spiking political nerves
Right, as usual, Ralph. I agree that MSNBC and to a lesser extent CNN can lean left, but I strongly believe neither network would allow guests to continually spew falsehoods without demanding proof, even if it reinforced the network’s viewpoint. Good journalism begins with reliable facts first, then we can get into helping viewers understand what those facts might mean. It requires offering a wide variety of viewpoints from experts about what the facts mean. The journalists should keep their own opinions out of it.
That’s one thing I don’t have a good handle on. Did Fox offer competing viewpoints to what Powell, Giuliani and the pillow guy were spouting? Did they consistently report on the denials Dominion was sending to Fox? I don’t know for certain but I kinda doubt it.
What do you think is a proper response to the culture wars?
Well said, Dave. Thank you for your perspective.
Yet the Cubs continue their “Lou Brock” tradition… read that: Fowler and now Contreras.
I liked your baseball analogy. I have always viewed Fox News as the Fox Comedy Show - it is entertainment, giving loyal viewers the spin and alternative facts they want to see and hear. Some of them know it is only entertainment, others may believe it is factual, but all are entertained.
Your comments generated yet more questions and thoughts. I do watch Fox-occasionally. I do not recall any competing viewpoints on the Dominion, save for a Fox staffer reporting that Dominion denies Fox’s allegations, immediately followed up by another staffer issuing a sarcastic comment. Again, IMHO, MSNBC and CNN have their problems, but far less significant. My question is what are our journalism schools teaching today? What would Bill Kunerth say?
On another Substack, I raised a similar question. People are scratching their heads for any kind of response or slogan.
good stuff!
What I find intriguing about the latest Fox News news, is the belief by Fox viewers that, somehow, the presidential election was to be decided, not by voters, but by who Fox News said had won (as if Fox' "call" had a bearing on the outcome).. What does that say about them? They are angry because Fox News said Trump lost. Then Fox spent 60 days telling them "it wasn't us" - listen to Rudy & Sidney & the Pillow Guy, and Trump - and "go get the real villians" on Jan 6.